Pulping and finishing apparatus

ABSTRACT

A pulping and finishing apparatus having a frame and a frustoconical screen which is perforated at least in its lower portion, and which has a driven frusto-conical rotor therein. The rotor is journaled in a cantilever bearing assembly which extends inwardly of the screen from its large end. An end plate is pivotally mounted on the frame at the small end of the screen and may be pivoted between a normally closed position and an open position for ease in removing the screen for cleaning or replacement The screen may be adjusted to place the screen axis either concentric with the rotor axis or eccentric relative thereto. The rotor may also be adjusted so as to affect axial movement of the rotor within the screen during operation thereby varying the spacing between the rotor blades and the screen.

titted States Patent encaccfi 5] Apr. 18, PULPING AND FINISHINGAPPARATUS Primary Examiner-Willie G. Abercrombie [72] Inventor: SamuelA. Mencacci, Antwerp, Belgium Attorney-F Anderson and Tnpp [73]Assignee: International Machinery Corporation S.A., ABSTRACT NlklaaswaasBelg'um A pulping and finishing apparatus having aframe and a frusto-[22] Filed: Feb. 19, 1970 conical screen which is perforated at least inits lower portion,

and which has a driven frusto-conical rotor therein. The rotor pp 12,554is journaled in a cantilever bearing assembly which extends inwardly ofthe screen from its large end. An end plate is 52 us. Cl ..l46/174Pivmally mwmed the frame at the Small and 0f the screen 5 1 1 Int. Cl...A23n 3/00 and may be Pivmed between a many and 581 Field 01 Search..146/172 173 174 175 176 P P ease in ramming the cleaning v replacementThe screen may be adjusted to place the screen axis either concentricwith the rotor axis or eccentric relative [56] References Cited thereto.The rotor may also be adjusted so as to affect axial UNITED STATESPATENTS movement of the rotor within the screen during operation therebyvarying the spacing between the rotor blades and the 2,142,649 1/1939Lmdley 146/174 screen 2,477,620 8/1949 Kerr 146/174 1 1 Claims, 10Drawing Figures AXIS (AR) OF ROTOR AXIS'(AF) 0F SUPPORT FLANGES AXIS(AS) OF) SCREEN PULPING AND FINISHING APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention pertains to anapparatus for pulping products such as fruits or vegetables.

2. Description of the Prior Art Pulpers and finishers are well known inthe art and may be used for pitting fruit such as apricots or freestonepeaches. The pulping action of the pulper, when used as a pitter,separates the pits from the fruit meat and reduces the fruit meat to apulp or juice. If a more refined consistency of the finished product isrequired, a finisher is used. The finisher is structurally equivalent tothe pulper except for the size of the perforations in the housing.

In U.S. Pat. No. 2,101,620 to Lewis a pulping machine is disclosedwherein a rotor is eccentrically joumaled within a cylindrical housinghaving a screen around its lower end. Such eccentricity provides adifferent gap between the pulping blades of the rotor and the upper andlower surfaces of the screen with the result that pulp will not cling tothe pulping blades, and accordingly, a much better pulping action isachieved by the Lewis pulper as compared to other known pulpers havingpulping blades which are rotated about an axis that is concentric withthe axis of the screen.

However, the pulping blades of the type of pulping apparatus disclosedby Lewis has the recognized disadvantage of being adjustable, to varythe spacing between the pulping blades and screen, only when the pulpingmachine is not being operated.

Another prior art pulper is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,142,649 toLindley which discloses a frusto-conical perforated housing or screenhaving a driven frusto-conical rotor therein that is concentric with thescreen and is axially adjustable relative thereto during operation.Although this type of pulping apparatus may be readily adjusted to varythe distance between the pulping blades and the screen housing, the gapbetween the blades and the screen is always the same throughout eachrevolution of the rotor for each axial setting of the rotor relative tothe screen. The pulp within the screen, therefore, tends to cling to thepulping blades and accordingly the Lindley device does not provide apulping operation which is as efficient as that achieved in pulpingapparatus using eccentrically mounted rotors.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The pulping apparatus of the present inventionincludes a frusto-conical perforated housing or screen having a drivenfrusto-conical rotor therein. The rotor is mounted on a cantileverbearing assembly which projects into the large end of the screen. An endplate is pivotally mounted on the frame and is movable between a closedposition where it provides support for the small end of the screen andan open position where it permits the entire screen to be pulled out ofthe frame without requiring the removal of bearings or the like. Therotor shaft may be adjusted during operation axially of the screeneither when the rotor shaft is positioned concentric with the axis ofthe screen or is positioned eccentrically relative to the axis of thescreen.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a vertical central sectionof the pulping apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an end elevation of the apparatus of FIG. 1 looking in thedirection of arrows 2-2 of FIG. 1 and illustrating the end plate in itsclosed or operative position.

FIG. 3 is an end view similar to FIG. 2 but with the end plate shownpivoted outwardly 90 to its open position, certain parts being brokenaway and only a fragment of the screen being shown.

FIG. 4 is a horizontal section taken along lines 4-4 of FIG. 3,illustrating one of the hinges with a fragment of the end plate in itsopen position in solid lines and the end plate in its closed position indotted lines.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged vertical central section taken through theadjustable bearing assembly for the rotor.

FIG. 6 is a vertical section taken generally along lines 6-6 of FIG. 2illustrating one of the hinges supporting the end plate in a positionparallel to its closed operative position but not yet clamped againstthe frame in supporting engagement with the small end of thefrusto-conical screen.

FIG. 7 is an operational view illustrating the screen centered with therotor and with the rotor positioned near the infeed or right end of thescreen, the size of the gap between the rotor and the screen beingexaggerated.

FIG. 8 is a vertical section taken along lines 8-8 of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is an operational view illustrating the screen mountedeccentrically of the rotor and with the rotor being shifted to aposition near the discharge or left end of the screen, the size of thegaps being exaggerated.

FIG. 10 is a section taken along lines 10-10 of FIG. 9.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The pulping and finishing apparatus10 (FIGS. 1 and 2) of the present invention comprises a frusto-conicalhousing or screen 12 supported by a frame 14. At least the lower portionof the screen 12 is perforated to allow juice and small portions of thepulp being processed to flow therethrough and enter a discharge hopper16. Preferably, the entire surface of the frusto-conical screen isperforated as illustrated in the drawings and the housing is enclosed bya hood 17 positioned over the upper half of the screen to preventsplashing.

A product such as apricots or peaches to be pitted is directed into thescreen 12 through a hopper 18 that is rigidly secured to-a verticalfront wall or end plate 20 that is loosely pivoted to the frame 14. Theend plate 20 provides support for the small end of the screen when it islocked in its operative position. A rear wall 24 is rigidly secured tothe other end of the frame 14, provides support for the large end of thescreen 12, and has a discharge opening 26 in the lower end thereof.

A rotor 32 is provided in order to pulverize the product within thescreen 12 so that the juice and small pulp particles will flow throughthe perforations in the screen and be collected in the hopper 16, and sothat the solids will be discharged through the opening 26. The rotor 32includes a shaft 34 which is joumaled in a cantilever bearing assembly36 that is rigidly secured to the frame and has said rear wall 24 formedintegrally therewith.

The rotor 32 comprises a cast body 38 (FIGS. 1, 3 and 7) which includestwo series of bosses 40 and 42 that project radially outward and areinternally threaded to receive adjustment bolts 44. As shown in FIG. 8,four rotor blades 46 are provided and each blade is in the shape of anangle bar. Two tabs 48 are welded to each rotor blade 46 and areslidably received on the associated bolts 44 and locked in place bylocknuts 50. As best shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, a spider 52 is formedintegrally with the rotor 32 and includes four legs 53 which slidablyreceive the radial flanges 54 of the associated rotor blades 46 to morerigidly support the same. The body 38 includes a hub 55 (FIG. 1) whichis rigidly secured to one end of the shaft 34 by splines 56 and a capscrew 58.

It will be understood that the rotor blades 46 are initially adjusted tothe desired spacing from the screen by means of the adjustment bolts 44and lock nuts 50, and that subsequent desired changes and spacing fromthe initial setting may be accomplished during operation by moving theshaft axially.

In this regard, the cantilever bearing assembly 36 includes a shaftadjusting device 60 (FIGS. 1 and 5) which may be used to adjust therotor axially during operation. The bearing assembly 36 comprises atubular housing 64 which is formed integrally with the end wall 24 andconnected thereto by a frusto-conical flange 66. The shaft 34 projectsout both ends of the housing 64 and has the inner race of a bearing 68held in place against a shoulder formed on the shaft 34 by a snap ring70. The outer race of the bearing 68 is mounted for axial slidingmovement within the tubular housing 64, and the bearing is protectedfrom contamination by a seal 72.

The shaft adjustingdevice 60 (FIG. is screwed onto the other end of thehousing 64 which is threaded as indicated in FIG. 5. The shaft adjustingdevice 60 comprises an internally threaded body 74 which is screwed ontothe housing 64 with the aid of hand wheel 76. The outer race of abearing 78 is clamped against an inwardly projecting flange 80 of thebody 74 by a cap 82. The cap 82 is apertured to allow the shaft toproject therethrough, and seal rings 83 and 84 are provided in the cap82 and in the flange 80 to preclude contaminaion of the bearing 78. Theinner race of the bearing 78 is mounted on a reduced diameter portion ofthe shaft 34 and is locked against a shoulder 85 by a locknut 86 screwedonto the shaft. It is apparent, therefore, that rotation of the body 74relative to the tubular housing 64 by means of the hand wheel 76 willcause the shaft to move axially and thus move the rotor 32 relative tothe screen 12 between the positions shown in FIGS. 7 and 9. In this way,the spacing between the rotor blades 46 and the screen 12 may be variedduring operation to provide the most desirable pulping operation. Thebody 74 may be locked in adjusted position by a lock nut 88.

As indicated in FIG. 1, the rotor 32 is driven by a motor 90 which isconnected to the splined end 92 of the shaft 34 by a flexible coupling94 having a splined connecting flange 96 that is sufficiently long toaccommodate movement of the splined end ofthe shaft within theconnecting flange 96.

In order to adjust the screen 12 from a position concentric with theaxis of the shaft 34 as shown in FIGS. 1, 7 and 8 to a position that iseccentric relative to the axis of the shaft 34 as shown in FIGS. 9 and10, eccentric mounting rings 100 and 102 are provided to support thelarge and small ends, respectively, of the frusto-conical screen 12. Thelarge mounting ring 100 is connected to the wall 24 by a series ofequally spaced capscrews 104 and has a cylindrical outer peripheralsurface which is supported by an annular support flange 106 thatprojects inwardly from the wall 24. Similarly, the small mounting ring102 is connected to the pivotal end plate 20 by a series of equallyspaced capscrews 110 and has a cylindrical inner surface which issupported by an annular support flange 112 that projects inwardly fromthe wall 20. The axis AF of the support flanges 106 and 112 areeccentric relative to the axis AR of the rotor 32 and shaft 34 asclearly indicated in FIGS. 1 and 7. The axis AS of the screen and of theinner cylindrical surface of the ring 100 and outer cylindrical surfaceof the ring 102 are eccentric relative to the axis AF of the flanges 106and 112.

As indicated in FIGS. 1, 7 and 8, the eccentricity between the outersurfaces and inner surfaces of each of the rings 100 and 102 is suchthat when the thickest portion of the large ring 100 is lowermost andthe thickest portion of the small ring 102 is uppermost, the axis AS ofthe screen will coincide with the axis of the rotor AR. Conversely, ifthe eccentric rings 100 and 102 are both rotated 180 to the positionillustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10, the axis AS of the screen 12 will beeccentric relative to the axis AR of the rotor 32. It will be recognizedthat other amounts of eccentricity between the rotor and the screen maybe achieved by placing the widest portion of the rings at selectedpoints between their uppermost and lowermost positions.

An important feature of the invention is that the frustoconical screen12 may be readily removed from the pulping and finishing apparatus bymerely pivoting the end plate from its operative position shown in FIG.1 to its open position shown in FIG. 3. In order to support the endplate 20, the frame 14 includes a ring 116 which is rigidly supported bythree tubes I18 (FIGS. 1, 3 and 4) and by a bracket 120 (FIG. 1) weldedto its lower end and bolted to a box beam 123 of the frame. The ring 116has an opening 121 therein which is slightly larger in diameter than thelargest diameter of the screen 12, and which receives an annular flange122 of the end plate 20 when the end plate is in operative position. Apair of hinges 124 are provided for loosely pivoting the end plate 20 tothe frame ring 116. Each hinge 124 includes an ear 126 (FIGS. 1 to 5)welded to the ring 116 and having a hole therein through which a pivotpin 128 projects. As best shown in FIG. 2, the end wall 20 is cut awayto accommodate the ears 126. A mating pair of ears 130 are welded to theend wall 20 and are disposed immediately adjacent the associated ears126 so as to receive the pins 128 in slots I32 (FIGS. 1, 3 and 4).

The end plate 20 is normally entered and locked in operative positionagainst the frame ring 116 by a centering pin 134 (FIG. 3), the annularflange 122, and by three wing bolts 136 (FIG. 2) which are supported bythe end wall 20 and are received in threaded holes in ring 116. When itis desired to remove one screen for repair, cleaning, or replacement byanother screen, the end plate 20 is unlocked from the ring 116 and ispulled outwardly and then pivoted to the open position illustrated inFIGS. 3 and 4. The old screen is then pulled out through the opening 121in the ring 116 and the new screen 12 is pushed axially over the rotor32 and is guided into the eccentric ring 100 by a chamfered edge on thering.

The end plate 20 is then pivoted into planar alignment with the ring 116as illustrated in FIG. 6 and is thereafter moved axially inward.Chamfered edges of the eccentric ring 102 move into the small end of thescreen 12 to support the same. The annular flange 122 and the centeringpin 134 centers the end plate 20 relative to the frame 14, and the wingbolts 136 are then tightened to lock the end plate 20 firmly against thering 116 in its operative position.

In operation, the rotor blades 46 are first locked into a desiredoperating position for the particular type of product being handled bymeans of the lock nuts 50 (FIG. 1). The pulping apparatus 10 is thenplaced in operation by starting the motor and directing the productbeing processed into the hopper 18. The rotating blades 46 thenpulverize the product, and if the product is apricots, for example,causes the juice and small particules of pulp to flow through theperforations of the screen 12 and into the discharge hopper 16 forsubsequent collection. The pits and the solid portions of the productthat are too large to pass through the perforations in the screen 12 aredischarge through the discharge opening 26 and are disposed of in theusual manner. Since it has been determined that a better pulping actiontakes place for most fruits and vegetables when the screen 12 iseccentrically mounted relative to the rotor 32, prior to operation theeccentric rings and 102 are usually positioned as illustrated in FIGS. 9and 10 but with the rotor positioned to the far right. With the screenpositioned in this manner, the axis AS of the screen will be eccentricrelative to the axis AR of the rotor and will permit widening of a gap G(FIGS. 9 and 10) during operation if such additional spacing is desired.The initial adjustment is performed prior to commencement of operation,as above mentioned, with the axis AS of the screen being placed aboutthree thirty-seconds to three-eighths of an inch below the axis AR of.the rotor shaft 34. After detecting the results of the operation withthe screen 12 positioned as above indicated and during continuousoperation of the apparatus 10 (FIG. 1), the locknut 88 may be loosenedand the hand wheel 76 turned to move the rotor 32 axially of the screen12 thereby positioning the rotor in the optimum position for theparticular product being handled. The locknut 88 is then tightenedagainst the body 74 to lock the adjusting device 60 in selectedposition.

If, for example, freestone peaches are to be handled after the machinehas been used and the rotor has been adjusted for apricots, the sameeccentricity may be retained and the rotor may be shifted axially towardthe large end of the screen 12 to the position indicated in FIGS. 9 and10 thereby increasing the gap G (FIGS. 9 and 10) between the pulpingblades 46 and screen 12. Such axial movement of the rotor isaccomplished by first loosening the locknut 88 (FIG. 1) and thenrotating the shaft adjusting device 60 by means of a hand wheel 76 untilthe rotor blades 46 are spaced from the housing a sufficient distance toprevent damage to the larger peach pits.

After the rotor has been placed in the desired position the locknut 88is again tightened against the body 74 thereby locking the axialadjustment device 60 in desired position.

Although the apparatus of the present invention has been described as apulping machine, it will be understood that the same principal ofoperation will apply to a finishing machine. In this regard the pulpingscreen may be easily removed by pivoting the end plate to the positionshown in FIG. 3 as above described, and the pulping screen may bereplaced with a finishing screen having smaller apertures therein. Itwill also be understood that other fruits and vegetables, such astomatoes, or other products such as paper pulp may be processed by thesubject apparatus.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that the pulping andfinishing apparatus of the present invention features a frusto-conicalrotor disposed within the frusto-conical perforated housing or screen.The rotor may be adjusted, during operation, in a direction axially ofthe housing; and the screen may be adjusted, while stationary, between aposition concentric with the axis of the rotor and a plurality ofpositions eccentric relative thereto.

Although thebest mode contemplated for carrying out the presentinvention has been shown and described, it will be apparent thatmodifications and variation may be made without departing from what isregarded to be the subject matter of the invention.

What I claim is:

l. A pulping apparatus comprising a frame, an end wall on saidframemounting a cantilever bearing assembly, a rotor journaled in saidbearing assembly and having an axis of rotation, a plurality of pulpingblades carried by said rotor, drive means connected to said rotor forrotating said rotor about said rotor axis, a frusto-conical screensurrounding said rotor in close proximity to said pulping blades andhaving a large end and a small end and an axis of generation, firstscreen sup porting means secured to said end wall for telescopicallyengaging and supporting the large end of said screen, a pivotal endplate normally secured to said frame near the small end of the screen,second screen supporting means secured to said plate for telescopicallyreceiving the small end of said screen, and means for-releasing saidplate from said frame for allowing the screen to be removed from saidframe without interference with the rotational support of said rotor.

2. A pulping apparatus comprising a frame, an end wall on said framemounting a cantilever bearing assembly, a rotor journaled in saidbearing assembly and having an axis of rotation, a plurality of pulpingblades carried by said rotor, drive means connected to said rotor forrotating said rotor about said rotor axis, a screen surrounding saidrotor in close proximity to said pulping blades and having two ends andan axis of generation, first screen supporting means secured to said endwall for telescopically engaging and supporting one end of said screen,a movable end plate secured to said frame near the other end of saidscreen, and second screen supporting means secured to said plate fortelescopically receiving the other end of said screen, said first andsecond supporting means being first and second eccentric rings, andadditionally comprising means for adjustably securing said first ring tosaid end wall and said second ring to said plate.

3. A pulping apparatus comprising a frame, an end wall on said framemounting a cantilever bearing assembly, a rotor journaled in saidbearing assembly and having an axis of rotation, a plurality of pulpingblades carried by said rotor, drive means connected to said rotor forrotating said rotor about said rotor axis, a screen surrounding saidrotor in close proximity to said pulping blades and having two ends andan axis of generation, first screen supporting means secured to said endwall for telescopically engaging and supporting one end of said screen,a movable end plate secured to said frame near the other end of saidscreen, and second screen supporting means secured to said plate fortelescopically receiving the other end of said screen, said first andsecond screen supporting means being radial adjustment means which maybe controlled so as to selectively position the axis of said screenconcentric with said rotor or eccentric relative thereto.

4. A pulping apparatus comprising a frame, an end wall on said framemounting a cantilever bearing assembly, a rotor joumaled in said bearingassembly and having an axis of rotation, a plurality of pulping bladescarried by said rotor, drive means connected to said rotor for rotatingsaid rotor about said rotor axis, a screen surrounding said rotor inclose proximity to said pulping blades and having two ends and an axisof generation, first screen supporting means secured to said end wallfor telescopically engaging and supporting one end of said screen, amovable end plate secured to said frame near the other end of saidscreen, second screen supporting means secured to said plate fortelescopically receiving the other end of said screen, said first andsecond screen supporting means being radially adjustable and including apair of eccentric rings rotatably about a common axis and disposed insupporting engagement with opposite ends of said screen, and means forconnecting said eccentric rings to said frame in any one of a pluralityof rotated positions for either positioning the screen axis concentricwith the rotor axis or for positioning the screen axis eccentric of therotor axis.

5. A pulping apparatus comprising a frame, an end wall on said framemounting a cantilever bearing assembly, a rotor joumaled in said bearingassembly and having an axis of rotation, a plurality of pulping bladescarried by said rotor, drive means connected to said rotor for rotatingsaid rotor about said rotor axis, a screen surrounding said rotor inclose proximity to said pulping blades and having two ends and an axisof generation, first screen supporting means secured to said end wallfor telescopically engaging and supporting one end of said screen, amovable end plate secured to said frame near, the other end of saidscreen, second screen supporting means secured to said plate fortelescopically receiving the other end of said screen, said screen beinga frusto-conical screen having its large end supported by said firstscreen supporting means, said end plate being disposed adjacent andparallel to the small end of said screen, and additionally comprisingmeans for releasably connecting said end plate to said frame forallowing said end plate to first be moved axially outward a shortdistance from said screen and thereafter be pivoted to a positionparallel to the axis of said rotor for allowing said screen to be easilyremoved from said frame.

6. A pulping apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said releasableconnecting means includes a hinge comprising a first ear rigidly securedto said frame and having a pivot pin receiving hole therein, a secondcar rigidly secured to said end plate and having an elongated slottherein extending parallel to the rotor axis when the end plate issecured to the frame, and a pivot pin extending through said hole andthrough said slot.

7. A pulping apparatus comprising a frame, a frusto-conical perforatedscreen supported by said frame and having an axis of generation, a rotorhaving an axis of rotation, a plurality of pulping blades carried bysaid rotor and disposed generally parallel to the adjacent surfaces .ofsaid screen, mounting means for supporting said rotor for rotation aboutsaid rotor axis and for movement longitudinally of said rotor axis,drive means connected to said rotor for rotating said rotor about saidrotor axis, axial adjustment means included in said mounting means foradjusting said rotor axially of said housing during rotation of saidrotor, and radial adjustment means supported by said frame for adjustingthe position of said screen axis radially relative to the rotor axis.

8. An apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said radial adjustmentmeans may be controlled so as to selectively position the axis of saidscreen concentric with said rotor axis or eccentric relative thereto.

9. An apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the maximum amount ofeccentricity is on the order of about three-eighths of an inch.

10. An apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said axial adjustmentmeans is adapted to move said rotor axially relative to said screenwhile the machine is in operation and when said screen axis is in any ofits positions of transverse adjustment relative to said rotor axis.

tubular body to said shaft for rotation relative thereto and for axialmovement therewith, said shaft and rotor being moved axially of saidhousing upon rotation of said tubular body relative to said cylindricalhousing, and means for locking said tubular body to said cylindricalhousing in adjusted position.

1. A pulping apparatus comprising a frame, an end wall on said framemounting a cantilever bearing assembly, a rotor journaled in saidbearing assembly and having an axis of rotation, a plurality of pulpingblades carried by said rotor, drive means connected to said rotor forrotating said rotor about said rotor axis, a frusto-conical screensurrounding said rotor in close proximity to said pulping Blades andhaving a large end and a small end and an axis of generation, firstscreen supporting means secured to said end wall for telescopicallyengaging and supporting the large end of said screen, a pivotal endplate normally secured to said frame near the small end of the screen,second screen supporting means secured to said plate for telescopicallyreceiving the small end of said screen, and means for releasing saidplate from said frame for allowing the screen to be removed from saidframe without interference with the rotational support of said rotor. 2.A pulping apparatus comprising a frame, an end wall on said framemounting a cantilever bearing assembly, a rotor journaled in saidbearing assembly and having an axis of rotation, a plurality of pulpingblades carried by said rotor, drive means connected to said rotor forrotating said rotor about said rotor axis, a screen surrounding saidrotor in close proximity to said pulping blades and having two ends andan axis of generation, first screen supporting means secured to said endwall for telescopically engaging and supporting one end of said screen,a movable end plate secured to said frame near the other end of saidscreen, and second screen supporting means secured to said plate fortelescopically receiving the other end of said screen, said first andsecond supporting means being first and second eccentric rings, andadditionally comprising means for adjustably securing said first ring tosaid end wall and said second ring to said plate.
 3. A pulping apparatuscomprising a frame, an end wall on said frame mounting a cantileverbearing assembly, a rotor journaled in said bearing assembly and havingan axis of rotation, a plurality of pulping blades carried by saidrotor, drive means connected to said rotor for rotating said rotor aboutsaid rotor axis, a screen surrounding said rotor in close proximity tosaid pulping blades and having two ends and an axis of generation, firstscreen supporting means secured to said end wall for telescopicallyengaging and supporting one end of said screen, a movable end platesecured to said frame near the other end of said screen, and secondscreen supporting means secured to said plate for telescopicallyreceiving the other end of said screen, said first and second screensupporting means being radial adjustment means which may be controlledso as to selectively position the axis of said screen concentric withsaid rotor or eccentric relative thereto.
 4. A pulping apparatuscomprising a frame, an end wall on said frame mounting a cantileverbearing assembly, a rotor journaled in said bearing assembly and havingan axis of rotation, a plurality of pulping blades carried by saidrotor, drive means connected to said rotor for rotating said rotor aboutsaid rotor axis, a screen surrounding said rotor in close proximity tosaid pulping blades and having two ends and an axis of generation, firstscreen supporting means secured to said end wall for telescopicallyengaging and supporting one end of said screen, a movable end platesecured to said frame near the other end of said screen, second screensupporting means secured to said plate for telescopically receiving theother end of said screen, said first and second screen supporting meansbeing radially adjustable and including a pair of eccentric ringsrotatably about a common axis and disposed in supporting engagement withopposite ends of said screen, and means for connecting said eccentricrings to said frame in any one of a plurality of rotated positions foreither positioning the screen axis concentric with the rotor axis or forpositioning the screen axis eccentric of the rotor axis.
 5. A pulpingapparatus comprising a frame, an end wall on said frame mounting acantilever bearing assembly, a rotor journaled in said bearing assemblyand having an axis of rotation, a plurality of pulping blades carried bysaid rotor, drive means connected to said rotor for rotating said rotorabout said rotor axis, a screen surRounding said rotor in closeproximity to said pulping blades and having two ends and an axis ofgeneration, first screen supporting means secured to said end wall fortelescopically engaging and supporting one end of said screen, a movableend plate secured to said frame near the other end of said screen,second screen supporting means secured to said plate for telescopicallyreceiving the other end of said screen, said screen being afrusto-conical screen having its large end supported by said firstscreen supporting means, said end plate being disposed adjacent andparallel to the small end of said screen, and additionally comprisingmeans for releasably connecting said end plate to said frame forallowing said end plate to first be moved axially outward a shortdistance from said screen and thereafter be pivoted to a positionparallel to the axis of said rotor for allowing said screen to be easilyremoved from said frame.
 6. A pulping apparatus according to claim 5wherein said releasable connecting means includes a hinge comprising afirst ear rigidly secured to said frame and having a pivot pin receivinghole therein, a second ear rigidly secured to said end plate and havingan elongated slot therein extending parallel to the rotor axis when theend plate is secured to the frame, and a pivot pin extending throughsaid hole and through said slot.
 7. A pulping apparatus comprising aframe, a frusto-conical perforated screen supported by said frame andhaving an axis of generation, a rotor having an axis of rotation, aplurality of pulping blades carried by said rotor and disposed generallyparallel to the adjacent surfaces of said screen, mounting means forsupporting said rotor for rotation about said rotor axis and formovement longitudinally of said rotor axis, drive means connected tosaid rotor for rotating said rotor about said rotor axis, axialadjustment means included in said mounting means for adjusting saidrotor axially of said housing during rotation of said rotor, and radialadjustment means supported by said frame for adjusting the position ofsaid screen axis radially relative to the rotor axis.
 8. An apparatusaccording to claim 7 wherein said radial adjustment means may becontrolled so as to selectively position the axis of said screenconcentric with said rotor axis or eccentric relative thereto.
 9. Anapparatus according to claim 8 wherein the maximum amount ofeccentricity is on the order of about three-eighths of an inch.
 10. Anapparatus according to claim 8 wherein said axial adjustment means isadapted to move said rotor axially relative to said screen while themachine is in operation and when said screen axis is in any of itspositions of transverse adjustment relative to said rotor axis.
 11. Anapparatus according to claim 8 wherein said mounting means includes acylindrical housing, and wherein the rotor includes a drive shaftjournaled for rotation and for axial sliding movement in said mountingmeans, and additionally comprising a tubular body concentric with saidshaft and screwed onto said cylindrical housing, means connecting saidtubular body to said shaft for rotation relative thereto and for axialmovement therewith, said shaft and rotor being moved axially of saidhousing upon rotation of said tubular body relative to said cylindricalhousing, and means for locking said tubular body to said cylindricalhousing in adjusted position.